it began the dedications in 1987. Upon reviewing materials sent by Brookman, the committee added the bar to its list of 28 literary landmarks.

"We want to encourage the development of more literary landmarks," Sandy Dolnick, executive director of Friends of Libraries, said. "Criteria for being a literary landmark has to be that a famous deceased author -- it can a locally famous author -- lived in, wrote about, or was inspired by the (site)."

Brookman couldn't be happier about further recognition for London's sake.

"He was one of the first realist adventure authors -- he wrote it like it was," she said. "What he did in his 40 years was more than most people do in their entire lifetimes."

And London wasn't the only writer to patronize the saloon. Robert Louis Stevenson visited often during the summer of 1888 and another regular was poet Joaquin Miller, whose portrait hangs on the wall near those of London.

Most of the bar's storytellers, however, are the generations of sailors who began frequenting the establishment in the late 1880s when it had a Western-style front porch and a sign that read simply "J.M. Heinold." Heinold later changed the name to "Heinold's First and Last Chance Saloon" because it was undeniably the first and last opportunity for sailors to get a drink before hopping aboard or off a ship.

This history intrigued Brookman, who purchased the bar 14 years ago from the widow of George Heinold, the founder's son. Like both generations of Heinolds, Brookman answers the phone, "First and Last Chance," and spends every day of the week at the bar.

WOMEN WELCOME

For the bar's first 50 years, women were spoken of but seldom seen. But by 1955, the year of Brookman's first visit, women were a welcome addition to the humble hangout.

Gone are the days of 45-cent meals of chili con carne from a can and cheap packs of cigarettes from a vending machine. But aside from a few traces of modern life -- like Oakland A's pennants and baseball hats bearing the names of modern ships -- not much has changed since London last stepped foot into the establishment.

"Everything is original in here since 1883, except the chairs," Brookman said.

According to Brookman, the question most often asked about the bar is not one about London, but why the floor is slanted.

The staff of three bartenders will tell the tale of that fateful day in 1906, when the earthquake caused the bar's pilings to sink. Fortunately, the bar was left intact, but a noticeable slant remains -- as does the hanging Seth Thomas clock that stopped the day of the quake.

Brookman said that the precarious-looking slope "looks worse than it is," and doubts that there's more than a 5 degree slant.

STURDY DURING QUAKE

The building's structure -- reinforced since the 1906 quake -- proved sturdy in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. Aside from a few broken beer bottles in the stockroom and a small crack in the floor, it was business as usual.

"We were the only ones who could remain open in the square," Brookman boasted. "We don't need electricity to operate -- we have the gaslights."

The gaslights and stream of light from the open front door illuminate the bar's multitude of donated treasures, including the ever-growing collection of fading business cards dating to the 1930s. But contrary to the belief that a fire charred the thousands of cards tacked to the low ceiling, Brookman said that it's simply the toll of time.

"That's from 117 years of smoke -- and, I tell everyone, bad breath," she said.

Other dangling relics include captains' hats, miniature models of ships, Nazi officers' pins, an old Colt pistol, abalone shells and other nautical finds.

And for those who wonder about the old taps and copper devices known as beer traps on the bar's wooden refrigerator, Brookman will explain that the traps were once used to catch the foam -- which was sometimes dumped into a trough outside for the pleasure of passing horses.

Brookman wants the stories to live on -- and hopes the bar will remain for another century.

"I would never ever do anything to change this place -- that would be the worst thing that could ever happen here."

DEDICATION PLANNED

The literary landmark dedication ceremony for Heinold's First and Last Chance Saloon begins at 5 p.m. Monday at the Jack London Statue at the foot of Broadway, Jack London Square, Oakland. Cake and champagne will follow at the saloon. (510) 839-6761.